Do you know how to look after wooden furniture?

Nowadays, the furniture market seems to be dominated by laminate and other cheap materials that look beautiful in store but quickly lose their shine after just a few months of daily wear and tear. Though more expensive, wooden furniture is worth the investment and it can be kept in the family for decades. The smallest hardwood furniture item is enough to add elegance and sophistication to any room, achieving an effect that cheap laminate cannot. However, wood is a complicated material and you will need to maintain it correctly if you want it to look fantastic for years and not crack and decolour. The most basic maintenance rule is to remove dust at least once a week using a soft cloth, followed by these other tips:

Keep wooden furniture away from direct sunlight

Direct sunlight can affect the beauty of wooden furniture and should be avoided as much as possible. Ideally, it should be kept away from direct sunlight, which can dry it out, causing cracks, swells and discoloration. Avoiding sunlight is very important, because once UV rays start affecting wood, you won’t be able to fix the damage. Similar to sunlight, heat can also cause problems, so make sure you place wooden furniture a few meters away from radiators and heaters.

Polish wood furniture with quality wax

The cheapest maintenance product for wood furniture comes in the form of silicone sprays, but you should by all means avoid them, because they don’t provide any real benefits. Silicone will make the wood look shinier immediately after application, but this is just an illusion, because in the long run silicone damages wood. Instead, use special polishing wax. Once a week, apply a thin layer of wax, let it sync in for a couple of minutes, then gently remove it with a soft cloth. This will help the furniture last longer and keep its shine.

When nothing else works, refurbish

With regular maintenance, a piece of wooden furniture will look fantastic for decades, but, at one point, it will inevitably start to look old and scrubby. Whether this is a result of years of daily use or some stains that can’t be removed, your average wood polish will no longer be enough. If you spend a lot of money on the furniture or it’s an item that was passed on from generation to generation, you can give it new life by taking it to reconditioning specialist.